The weekend is almost here. I can’t believe that I start counting down to the next weekend when my alarm goes off at midnight Sunday (Monday morning).

I hope you have a spectacular weekend whether you have a lot planned or nothing at all.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my “Random Friday Thoughts”.

ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER CAITLYN DISAPPOINTMENT

The transgender community’s biggest nightmare (okay, that’s not scientific), but the woman I see as the least qualified person to represent the trans community proved me right once again.

A little over a week after #45 tweeted that transgender men and women cannot serve in the U.S. military, Caitlyn Jenner was seen wearing one of those dreaded #45 hats about America’s future.

I’m not even going to get into the reasons Jenner gave for wearing the hat or the apology she gave after getting busted.

Caitlyn, I personally think you’re an insult to the transgender community. So, don’t apologize. We (or I) expect nothing more than what you’ve displayed time and time again.

Go away!

ON A SEXIER & HAPPIER TRANSGENDER NOTE

Check out this sexy and stunning new PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) advertising spread.

It features trans models Loiza Lamers and Benjamin Melzer.

Loiza is a Dutch model, best known for winning the eight season of Holland’s “Next Top Model”. She also became the world’s first transgender winner of the global television franchise.

Loiza underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2003, at the age of 18.

German born Melzer became the first transsexual to grace the cover of the European “Men’s Fitness” magazine.

The 30-year-old transitioned seven years ago.

SCHOOL LUNCHES & EATING IN GENERAL

Now that more schools are back in session and others are getting ready, it’s time to think about school lunches.

My favorite meals when I was in school were the cardboard pizza, which I’d cover in ketchup, salt, and pepper, and the sloppy joes, with whatever mystery “meat” that was supplied to schools in the 1970s and early-1980s.

The debate is still on about what’s good for kids and what some school districts can afford.

I don’t believe kids should have the option of soda or whole milk (low-fat instead) with lunch and I think fruits and veggies should be served with every school meal. That’s where I draw the line.

I know kids, just like us, have the option and will choose much less healthier choices outside of school.

The sad thing about nutrition is that it’s cheaper to eat the unhealthy choices than what’s good for you. Take McDonald’s, for example.

You can get many options on the dollar menu, but a meal-sized salad costs several dollars!

At the grocery, you can get a full box of snack cakes or bags of chips with hundreds of calories per serving for a dollar or two, but healthier choices are much more expensive for far less food.

It’s a no win situation!

DUCKS A LA KING!

This looks like a muddy version of the duck game at the county and state fairs. However, it’s actually a grassy area that becomes a “pond” with each heavy rain.

It’s also a safe haven for all of the little ducklings.

The other day, I was walking around the big pond and noticed that a turtle had grabbed a duckling. If it had just happened, I would have waded into the pond to try to rescue it. But, it was too late.

As much as I know it’s a game of “survival of the fittest”, it’s still tough to witness.

I gave up beef years ago and I love prime rib and a nice, messy, juicy cheeseburger, but I can’t imagine eating a beautiful bovine.

However, after witnessing the wildlife here in Panama City and not seeing cows, maybe I should indulge!!!!!!!

“MR. ROBOT” RETURNS IN TWO MONTHS

If you haven’t seen the season two finale of “Mr. Robot”, skip past the season three trailer and start reading at “Son of Sam”!

It appears that Elliot Alderson (Emmy Award winner Rami Malek) survives being shot! Or, who knows with this show? It’s hard to know who or what is real.

The one thing that’s certain on “Mr. Robot” is that the world is screwed up. Notice I chose the polite description even though that’s rather sanitized!

Notoriously, David Berkowitz will always be remembered as the “Son of Sam”, who terrorized New York City during the mid-1970s.

It was 40 years ago this week that his killing spree ended. When he was arrested on August 10, 1977, after killing six people and injuring eight others, the fear subsided in New York City.

What helped bring him down? A parking ticket and a barking dog!

A new 2-hour special called “Son of Sam: The Hunt for a Killer” on the Investigation Discovery network is incredible and features a lot of new interviews.

Also, if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend Spike Lee’s 1999’s unappreciated “Summer of Sam”.

To this day, I still think Mira Sorvino should have nominated for her performance!

JAMES FRANCO — GAY FOR PAY (ART)

James Franco does it all in Hollywood. In 2017 alone, he’s in eleven movies!

He starred in the Tobey Maguire “Spiderman” series in the 2000s (all three movies) and he earned an Oscar nomination for “127 Hours”, which was based on a true story.

Franco was captivating as Harvey Milk’s lover, Scott Smith, in “Milk”, that earned Sean Penn an Best Actor Academy Award.

That was just one of several gay roles he’s played. Recently, on Netflix, I saw him in two of his most recent gay roles, both based on true stories. I’ll start with the best (and most bizarre).

“KING COBRA”

It’s the story of “Brent Corrigan”, a teenager from Idaho that traveled across the country and became an adult movie star in films from pornographer Bryan Kocis (played by Christian Slater). Kocis was named “Stephen” in the movie.

After getting famous in the gay movie world, Corrigan (sexy Garrett Clayton) wants more money, but Kocis has the youngster under contract and has claim to his professional name and image.

James Franco plays Joe Kerekes, a rival pornographer that devised a plan to get Corrigan to star in his new movie and reap all the financial benefits.

Needless to say, things go wrong and not everyone survives the twisted outcome!

This trailer is rather risque!

GRADE: A-

“I AM MICHAEL”

In this movie based on another true story, Franco plays San Francisco gay activist Michael Glatze, who moves to Canada with his lover, Bennett (Zachary Quinto).

While there, they bring a younger third, Tyler (Charlie Carver) into the relationship, but the biggest shock is when Michael finds religion and proclaims himself an ex-gay.

He then falls in love with a woman and becomes a Christian preacher.

Quinto is believable in this movie, but the only thing that really stands out about Franco is his bad hair styles over the year.

He’s much more intense in “King Cobra” and more vulnerable in “Milk”.

GRADE: B-

REMEMBERING GLEN CAMPBELL

Glen Campbell, the country music and pop crossover (and television) star of the 1960s and the 1970s, passed away earlier this week after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was 81.

He was also well known for his rocky relationship with Tanya Tucker, one of the biggest country music stars in the 1970s.I blogged about her (and Campbell) in the summer of 2014 and many people checked it out after his death.

During this long music career, Campbell scored an amazing 56 country hits with 28 of them hitting the Top Ten and five topped the Billboard Country singles chart.

He was a huge crossover artist, too. 21 of his songs hit the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. Of those, five reached the Top Ten, and two (“Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Southern Nights”) reached the #1 on the pop chart!.

My five favorite Glen Campbell songs were:

#5 “Gentle on My Mind

#4 “Galveston”

#3 “Wichita Lineman”

#2 “Southern Nights”

#1 “Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)”

PICK HIT

Happy Birthday Shawn Mendes!

The Canadian singer turned 19-year-old earlier this week.

His first two studio albums have topped the charts here in the U.S.

“Stiches” hit #1 on the airplay chart at Top 40 radio and he’s already scored six hits on American radio.

Until now, my favorite Mendes song was “Treat You Better”, which reached #6 last year.

But, his latest, “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”, is catchy, fun, and my new favorite. It’s also the most played song in America!

It’s from his “Illuminate” album.

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!